The tragedy of dry and secondary drowning

Know how to protect your children this summer

Until last month I had never heard about dry and secondary drowning. As a
parent who has been actively seeking to educate myself on
water safety
for my family, I was alarmed to learn about the tragic consequences that can occur long
after a
water submersion injury
or event. I always thought that drowning happens immediately. I have seen
plenty of children and adults rescued by lifeguards at the beach, lake or
pool. These near-drowning incidents have occurred quickly in the water. I
did not know that a drowning death could happen hours or even days after
submersion. That was, until I read about a little boy named Frankie.

Last month I heard about
the tragic loss
of this four-year-old boy from Texas. Several days after swimming, he
passed away because, unbeknownst to his family, water had entered his
lungs.
According to reports
he had not been feeling well but it seemed like he was battling a
common stomach bug. It was not until he stopped breathing that his family realized something
was terribly wrong. By that point it was too late.

Any story about the death of a young child is heartbreaking. I was affected
upon hearing about Frankie because I feel deeply sorry for his loss of life
and his grieving family. I am also grateful that they are sharing their sad
story because it can help prevent such a tragedy from happening to another
family.

I now join the ranks of many parents who are wondering about these
lesser-known, delayed injuries and fatalities from water. Because of the media coverage of the tragic accident, some
parents are paying closer attention
to their own children after swimming to ensure they do not realize the same
sad fate. As we continue to enjoy summer, with many of us
in or around water, I wanted to share what I have learned about dry and
secondary drowning in an effort to spread the word about what to look for
and how to protect our children.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, dry drowning is when a person’s larynx closes as a protective response to
water submersion, cutting off air and oxygen. Secondary drowning occurs
when water gets into the lungs and collects there resulting in pulmonary
edema, which impedes breathing. In both, symptoms can begin immediately or
may not start to show for as long as 48 hours after being submerged in
water.

Parents Magazine offers a
comprehensive understanding of dry and secondary drowning, which I have found really helpful in increasing my knowledge. Based on input from a number of medical
professionals, here is a synopsis of symptoms they recommend watching out
for in an effort to protect your children from a drowning fatality. Take
your child to the nearest emergency room, urgent care facility or to their
pediatrician if any of the following occurs after being in water:

• The child is saved from a drowning incident or a water submersion injury.

• The child is coughing and having a hard time breathing normally.

• The child goes from fully energized to extremely tired, confused or
forgetful (do not let him fall asleep until he gets checked out).

• The child is nauseous or vomiting in the minutes, hours and days after.

I have taken my son to the pediatrician for the smallest of red flags. If
something seems off about my baby boy I never hesitate to seek medical
attention. So it should go without saying that if I notice any hint of
these dry and secondary drowning symptoms I will proceed to the nearest emergency room immediately. I operate as an overly-cautious mother because
my son’s safety and well-being are of paramount concern to me. Each and
every time, I would rather be safe than sorry.

It is prudent to be alert and aware of all those around you when in and
around the water. Keep in mind that babies and toddlers are not the only
ones susceptible to dry and secondary drowning. This can happen to older
children and adults, too. My husband and I were swimming in a lake in
Wisconsin a couple of years ago when a woman started to struggle about 20
feet from the dock. Even though lifeguards were on duty, it was my husband
who quickly responded to her calls for help. He helped her to the dock
where the guards pulled her up. I have no doubt that my husband prevented
this woman from serious injury or even death that day. Sometimes a stranger
can become a hero.